“Judging by the early hour and your tone, I’d say not okay.”
“Damn right!” Randolph’s voice vibrates with anger. “I trusted you, damn it, and this is how you repay me?”
I open one of the cabinet doors and reach for a mug. Whatever’s eating him will require a huge cup of coffee.
“Repay you how, Randolph?”
“You and Seraphina!”
I nearly drop the mug. Slowly, I lower it to the counter, turn and lean against it as the alarm takes hold, builds until it’s flowing through my veins like a flood.
“What are you talking about?” I keep my tone even, calm.
“The pictures are everywhere, Hawke. Both of you at the gala last night.”
I put Randolph on speaker and quickly pull up my news app. I type in my name and three seconds later I see it. Or rather them, as there are several photos of Seraphina and me next to the lake. One is of us talking, Seraphina’s mouth twisted into a scowl beneath the mask. The second is of her starting to walk past me.
But it’s the third that’s the most damning. My hands on her shoulders, my head lowered, her staring up at me from behind the mask. The headlines are just as bad, from Fire Dancer Seduces Billionaire Boss, to Playboy Financier’s Secret Affair with His Own Secretary!
I swear under my breath.
“Well, Hawke?”
Randolph’s voice fills the kitchen. Gone is the jovial grandfather figure who drank cocktails with me by the lake just a few hours ago. In his place is the hard-line CEO who wields considerable power and influence over this city, who brought me over a dozen new clients over the last few years.
If Randolph cuts ties with Hawke Financial, we’d survive. I’ve made enough wealthy people even wealthier that even if he were to intentionally try to ruin me, he’d fail.
New Field.
My hand tightens on my phone. I need Randolph. Yes, there are other ways of getting to New Field. But ways that will cost more time and don’t have near the same chance of success.
I stare down at Seraphina’s face. At her parted lips, the way her body leans in toward mine. A picture of secret lovers finally caught.
The answer is right in front of me. Not just the answer to potentially stop Randolph’s tirade in my ear, but to address his concerns from last night, to satisfy his obsession with monogamous commitment as I push him one step closer toward the New Field takeover. Turning the tide of scandalous press and using it to my advantage will be an added bonus.
Resolution falls into place with the strength of tumblers in a lock. I don’t like lying to Randolph, just like I don’t like the idea of a supposed engagement with the woman I’ve been fighting my attraction to for three years. But my mother didn’t like working three jobs to keep a roof over our heads. My brother didn’t like being sent to a prison that prioritized punishment over retribution. If I’m truly going to have my revenge, it will require sacrifice.
Seraphina’s not going to be happy. But she cares about New Field. She’ll see reason. Even if she’s furious, I’ll write her a check so large it would pacify anyone.
I take my phone off speaker. Press it to my ear. Inhale deeply.
Then leap.
“Seraphina and I are engaged.”
Seraphina
The brisk knock on my door jerks me out of my meditative state. I curse as I teeter in Revolved Half-Moon Pose, then fall flat on my butt.
I sigh. I spent all night tossing and turning, memories of my near kiss with my boss and nightmares of being fired randomly jerking me out of sleep until I finally gave up around six. I made myself a cup of tea, only to spill half of it across the counter as I read a text from Mona, the director of Grace’s Refuge. The landlord had given them until next month to come up with the money. But she was already anticipating having to temporarily shut down while they hunted for a new space.
After I cleaned up the tea, I rolled out my yoga mat and slipped into the one thing guaranteed to relax me. The sequence of poses, monitoring my breathing, focusing on my body in the moment, all of it helped me in the months after the trial. It was my first foray into regaining control of my body and my mind.
Apparently, the universe is going to deny me even that simple pleasure today.
Another knock, this one louder and more insistent, has me growling at the door.
“I’m coming!”
